PilotMan
11-09-2005, 07:40 AM
Wow! I really didn't see this coming.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Injury forces WBC heavyweight champion Klitschko to retire</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>November 9, 2005
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) -- WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has retired because of a knee injury, his former promoter said on its Web site Wednesday.
Klitschko pulled out of Saturday's title defense against Hasim Rahman when he tore ligaments while sparring last week in Los Angeles. He was fitted with a brace, but later canceled the fight with Rahman scheduled for Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.
The decision to end with the sport was hard to make. But I would like to end my career on the top and with my retirement make the way free for my successor,'' Klitschko said in a statement released by Universum Promotions.
The injury will require six months to heal, but the WBC gave Klitschko three months to recover -- after which it would award the title to Rahman.
The Ukraine-born fighter, who was 35-2 with 34 knockouts, underwent surgery on his knee Tuesday in Inglewood, Calif.
``Unfortunately, I've been fighting injuries recently more than facing rivals in the ring,'' Klitschko said.
Klitschko and Rahman were originally scheduled to fight April 30, but Klitschko pulled out because of a thigh injury.
But WBC president Jose Sulaiman said Monday that the most recent cancellation actually was the fourth time Klitschko backed out of a fight with Rahman. Rahman grew so tired of waiting to fight Klitschko that he took a bout with Monte Barrett in August. Rahman won on a decision to become the WBC's interim champion, meaning he would be declared champion if Klitschko didn't fight him. Klitschko has not fought since stopping Danny Williams in the first defense of his title last December.
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Injury forces WBC heavyweight champion Klitschko to retire</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>November 9, 2005
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) -- WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has retired because of a knee injury, his former promoter said on its Web site Wednesday.
Klitschko pulled out of Saturday's title defense against Hasim Rahman when he tore ligaments while sparring last week in Los Angeles. He was fitted with a brace, but later canceled the fight with Rahman scheduled for Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.
The decision to end with the sport was hard to make. But I would like to end my career on the top and with my retirement make the way free for my successor,'' Klitschko said in a statement released by Universum Promotions.
The injury will require six months to heal, but the WBC gave Klitschko three months to recover -- after which it would award the title to Rahman.
The Ukraine-born fighter, who was 35-2 with 34 knockouts, underwent surgery on his knee Tuesday in Inglewood, Calif.
``Unfortunately, I've been fighting injuries recently more than facing rivals in the ring,'' Klitschko said.
Klitschko and Rahman were originally scheduled to fight April 30, but Klitschko pulled out because of a thigh injury.
But WBC president Jose Sulaiman said Monday that the most recent cancellation actually was the fourth time Klitschko backed out of a fight with Rahman. Rahman grew so tired of waiting to fight Klitschko that he took a bout with Monte Barrett in August. Rahman won on a decision to become the WBC's interim champion, meaning he would be declared champion if Klitschko didn't fight him. Klitschko has not fought since stopping Danny Williams in the first defense of his title last December.
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